Phillips Exeter Academy Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 9 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
3 roles · 9 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Phillips Exeter Academy.
Phillips Exeter Academy
Teacher
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
I went to a hiring conference where they hit me with a lot of questions about my teaching and why I want the job. They also asked me to describe a problem I had while teaching and how I fixed it. Some parts of the interview were in French and Spanish.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- What motivates you to teach?
- Could you outline your approach to teaching?
- What is your core belief about education?
Phillips Exeter Academy
Manager, Sustainability & Natural Resources
Manager Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
About two weeks after I applied, I got an email for a phone screen. We set it up for five days later, and the HR recruiter seemed nice via email. The call started ten minutes early, which was weird, but I answered. It was a different HR recruiter who said something came up and the screen was cancelled, but they wanted to reschedule for the next week. This felt like a red flag because it's unfair to candidates if companies cancel last minute, but I agreed to reschedule for the next business day. The call itself was pretty standard. I think I did okay, but the recruiter seemed disengaged. They said in-person interviews were supposed to be the next week and hiring should happen within four weeks. It's been three weeks since that call, and I haven't heard anything back. I really think the HR department at Exeter needs to improve how they handle candidates and follow-ups. It was pretty disappointing, felt like they were just going through the motions.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Given the high volume of meetings in this role, often with very little time in between, how do you approach time management and organization?
Phillips Exeter Academy
Classroom Teacher
Mid Average Neutral experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
Saw an ad on secondary ed and professional job listings. Had a phone interview in late Jan. After a long silence, I had a campus interview in April. Stayed overnight, with 10 hours of appointments on two days. Met with most of the department, deans, and the department hiring committee; visited classes and dorm duty, saw the dorm apt and campus. During the dean meeting, I was asked about my years of experience; this was reviewed when the job offer was made. Offer made in May; we negotiated mostly in two phone conversations.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- How many years of experience do you have?
- What is your awareness of work at a boarding school?
- Tell me about your teaching experience.
Phillips Exeter Academy
Student and Campus Programs Manager
Mid Average Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Just a few days after I applied, I had a phone screen with someone from HR. Not long after that, I was invited for a Zoom interview with someone from the Alumni Relations office. It went pretty well, with basic questions. Then, I waited about 4-5 weeks to get a 'thanks but no thanks' message from HR. I checked in during that longer waiting period and was given a pretty neutral response that I'd be hearing soon. Overall, the process was easy, but they definitely kept their cards close to their chest regarding whether I was even being seriously considered. I believe they waited to tell me no until the position was filled. Glad I had other interviews going on.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Can you tell me why you applied for this position?
- What do you think you can bring to the academy?
- Tell me about your experience working with diverse populations.
Phillips Exeter Academy Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Phillips Exeter Academy interview reports.
“How would you explain this topic using French?”
Read reports →“What is the most important thing high school students need from teachers?”
Read reports →“How would you explain this topic using Spanish?”
Read reports →“What is your core belief about education?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me about the salary scale for this position?”
Read report →“What is your awareness of work at a boarding school?”
Read report →“What do you think you can bring to the academy?”
Read report →“Given the high volume of meetings in this role, often with very little time in between, how do you approach time management and organization?”
Read report →“What are three key skills you possess?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 9 Phillips Exeter Academy interview reports.